Our Journey
Leading a long-overdue transformation in how our city tackles food insecurity
That’s why we stopped giving food. We needed to take a bold step forward.
We used to feed hungry kids…
For over 40 years, giving food to hungry children and families was considered the solution to food insecurity. But it’s fraught with unintended negative consequences. It dictates what they get to eat without giving them much of a choice. And it doesn’t even begin to address the underlying cause: inadequate income.
Our journey
It started with “Why?”
Like a lot of kids, when Sutton Garner, then 11, first learned about summer hunger she was bothered. And curious. When she found out that it was a problem in her city, she set out to do something about it. This was the catalyst that launched I Can for Kids.
Early adopters
That first year, when Sutton presented her case to management at Save-On-Foods, she won them over with her message of hope and her drive for change. They continue to support her dream as part of their commitment to help feed hungry kids.
Working with experts
Our founding model is based on relationships with more than 25 frontline service agency partners who have direct contact with families living with food insecurity. They provide us with regular feedback from their clients.
Our PIVOT
COVID-19 disrupted our food supply chain. Protocols shut down our facility and prevented our volunteers from assembling food packs. Our robust distribution system meant we didn’t have to miss a beat – we immediately pivoted to grocery gift cards.
Validation
Our research with the University of Calgary and our evaluation with agency partners demonstrated many notable advantages of our grocer gift card program compared to free food hampers.
Looking forward
We will continue to distribute grocery gift cards as our sole vehicle of support for food-insecure families. This approach has proven to be a much more dignified, relational, and efficient model. We will now focus our energy on enhancing the program’s sustainability, reach, and impact by strengthening new and ongoing partnerships and collaborations.
One big reason why we’ve chosen to support I Can for Kids is our admiration for the way they are disrupting the conventions and inefficiencies of addressing food insecurity in kids and families through food programs. Once a food program themselves, we totally respect the way they innovated a different path that ensures families can get healthy food to the point of need in a focused, dignified, and highly impactful way. That is what innovation is all about – creating real change with real results!
Your generous support empowers thousands of families with the dignity and confidence to plan, purchase, and provide fresh and healthy food that meets their kids’ unique needs.
None of that can happen without donors like you.